Ok, I asked about why we don't see Jewish related questions.Now, here is a Jewish related question.?

Question

I use to live with a Jewish guy and one day I noticed this small statue or something.I can't recall exactly what it was.I picked it up because it looked kind of cool.He saw me do it and ran over and grabbed it from me and said I should never touch that.I asked why and he said because it is forbidden for me or anyone to touch that object according to his faith.I asked him what it was and he said for me to never mind about it.

What was it and why couldn't I touch it?

It may have been a bag.I can't recall what it was.Heck, it could have been a piece of jewerly.I just don't remember.All I recall is how he reacted when I picked it up.

Answer 1

Two possibilities: First is that he may have been Jewish but not a religious Jew in the traditional sense. This seems most likely, as it is nearly imposssible for a religious Jew to live with a gentile roomate because of their dietary laws, and certain holiday laws espescially around Passover.

Anyways, in that case, I would venture to guess his statue was a religious icon from a religion other than Judaism, possibly hinduism or budhism. Interesting trivia: Most practicing budhist in AMerica are Jews. (Which is not to say most Jews are Budhists.)

The second scenario is that the little "statue" or "bag" you remember picking up was a pair of tefillin. These are special leather boxes with biblical verses inside that Jews wear once a day. People unfamiliar with them can mistake them for wooden statues of little buildings painted black. The leather is very hard. I thought they were wooden statues of the Qaba in Mecca when I first saw somebody take them out.

In any case, it's not forbidden for you to touch them, but they are easily damaged, and damage to them requires their replacement. They cost upwards of 300$ for a cheap pair.

Answer 2

If it was indeed as you first said, a statue, it was probably more along the lines of a family piece of art that had been handed down through generations.... But seeing you mention something about a bag and about you being forbidden to touch it, I would most likely say that it was a Teffilin bag with Tefflin inside. Tefflin are phylacteries that are strapped on to the head and the left arm during prayer. Inside the boxes, there are little scripts with prayers from the Torah. These are to remind to worship HaShem (G-d) not only with one's head but also with one's heart. That is why one is placed on the head, and one on the left arm beside the heart. I have never heard of it being outright forbidden to touch them (perhaps it was because you are a Gentile---I'm guessing), but I would have definitely asked if I were you.

Answer 3

hmmm, that's interesting. Statues are usually forbidden in Judaism, especially if it is of an angel, or a God or something like that. And you are not supposed to look at carved images of Gods, but if he is that religious, then that doesn't explain why he would have the statue in the first place! So I'm interested in hearing what answers you get.

Answer 4

i'm sorry sir, you have no longer any info in any respect. do away with your holy e book, and you be in deeeep doooodoooo. merely in view which you opt for for it to be real would not make it so. We, as historians, do have self belief that jesus did certainly stay, and there is even info that there could have been quite a few adult adult males by ability of that call who make up area of the finished history. yet sweetie, all religions are faith based, no longer actuality based, and all religions even admit it..... and all have self belief they have the real faith, yet they could't all be real, can they? in case you declare the bible as fact, this is at desirable a conglomeration of writings from ravenous stone age shepherds, no longer any of them understanding one yet another... The old testomony, a history and set of folktales of the tribe of Israel, and the hot testomony worked and remodeled by ability of copyists who replaced it and made it greater desirable till the mid 1400's while the printing press replaced into invented. the techniques in christianity are older that this is.... the virgin start factor is prevalent everywhere in the midsection East throughout the time of that element.... females's vaginas have been grimy, and her era a time of grime. This keeps there even immediately..... You, sweetie, ought to take some college training in comparative religions, history of religions and so on. you be attentive to so little or no and have taken all of it on faith interior the face of overwhelming technology.... my sympathies

Answer 5

Without a full description of the item, it is hard to say what the statue may have been.

Answer 6

I've practiced the Jewish faith for 70 years and I'vr never heard of such a thing. I think your room mate was a little "strange".

Answer 7

Doesn't it seem odd to believe in a God that says, "Don't touch certain statues?" Come on people. Wake up! God is so much bigger than your rituals. It's not Biblical and therefore silly.

Answer 8

Maybe it was a Golem and he told it to kill you.

Answer 9

ARE YOU CRAZY?! You know who owns YAHOO?


:)

Speak about Jews? NEVER!!!!!